When I walked into my local Airsoft shop for the first time, I was like a little kid at Christmas. All those shiny guns on the wall, accessories, ammo in the glass cabinets, and all the clothing set out like a department store. I started thinking, right, I’ll have one of them, one of them, oh and two of them and I’ll add a sniper rifle just in case.
That’ll be $450 laughed the guy behind the counter. Jeez, that’s the expensive man. You new to Airsoft? he asked. And so it began. He talked me through what I would need to start playing Airsoft, and the price was reduced to less than $250.
Airsoft is not expensive if you can control your urges and don’t want the very best of everything. It is one of the very few hobbies where there is something to suit all budgets. The expense lies with the individual.
Someone on a low budget could purchase the essentials for less than $200. However, if you want to spend $400 on an Airsoft gun, then yes, it may start to become expensive.
I’ll discuss all your options in this article.
How Expensive Is It To Get Into Airsoft?
On average, you can get into Airsoft for around $200 – $300 which is not that expensive. This would include your gun (rifle), protective equipment, an extra battery, maybe an extra mag, and BBs. You could probably do it slightly cheaper if you wanted to use cheaper equipment. However, there would be a reoccurring cost with your BBs. This could range from $15 – $30 depending on how many you use per game.
One of the reasons we like to spend more money is because of fear of what others have. When I attended my first Airsoft match, I was so intimidated by all the other players and their weapons, I wanted bigger and better now. But when you get talking to them, they’re a great set of people and have been playing for ages. Most of them started just as you and I are about to now.
Some other things you need to consider are your weapon of choice:
- Do you want a pistol, rifle, or sniper? You can buy a pistol starter kit for less than $50
- Do you want an electric or gas gun?
- Do you want a pistol with blowback or not?
Airsoft Pistol Starter Kit Under $50
Here is an Airsoft Pistol starter kit that is so cheap, you have no reason not to play. Evike sells this starter kit for a whopping $39.99. Now I know this may seem cheap and it is, but if you want to get into airsoft and have a low budget, its worth a shot:
- Polymer body with integrated 20mm accessory rail
- Powered by one 12g CO2 capsule housed in the grip
- Fixed front and rear sights
- Compact design
- Includes CO2, BBs, and goggles
- Ready to go from the box to the range
Airsoft Rifle Starter Kit Under $200
Airsoft is one of the hobbies (or sports) where you can get what you need for as little or as much as you want to pay. Which is great. It means anyone can play, no matter what their budget.
Here is an example of an Airsoft Rifle Starter Kit at Foxairsoft for under $200. It costs $199 and has everything you need to start playing.
- Lancer Tactical AK-47 Airsoft Gun
- Auto-stop charger
- ASG Strike System Mesh Mask
- ASG Full-seal ANSI rated Goggles
- Upgraded 9.6 v spare battery
- Elite 0.25 x 2700 BBs
- Echo 1 34″ Gun Case
One thing to remember, you do get what you pay for in terms of quality. Although this Airsoft starter pack is an excellent choice for beginners, don’t expect too much. The gun may be plastic instead of metal, the goggles may not be the same quality as the more expensive ones, and so on.
But what’s more important – having nothing because you can’t afford the expensive stuff or having something, just so you can go and get involved?
Airsoft Starter Kit Under $400
I’ve pushed the boat out here and found an Airsoft Rifle Starter Kit on Foxairsoft for $369.99. The reason I’ve gone more expensive is to show you what the difference is between this one and the less expensive one. To be fair, it’s down the Airsoft rifle mainly. G&G is a very reputable company and is known for quality guns.
- G&G SSG-1 USR Speedsoft Airsoft Gun
- Auto-Stop LiPo Charger
- Metal Mesh Hybrid face mask
- Full-seal Z87+ ANSI rated dual pane goggles
- Buffer Tube LiPo battery
- Elite Bottle of 6 mm .25 g BBs
- Echo 1 Nylon rifle bag
These are just a few examples to give you an idea of what you can get for your money. Alternatively, to could buy your equipment separately.
Here is an example of buying your equipment separately;
- Lancer Tactical M4 M933 Commando Gen 2 – $129
- Lancer Tactical Rage Airsoft Goggles – $24.99
- ASG Airsoft Mesh Mask with Ear Protection – $24.99
- ASG 8.4v 1400 mAh NiMh Battery – $19.99
- Elite Force 2700 Rd. BIO BBs – $14.99
A total of $213.96. It would be cheaper to buy the starter kit in my opinion. If you wanted to add a pistol to this you can add around $50.
There is another alternative to buying your own equipment and that is renting. Equipment can be rented from most Airsoft fields when you arrive and I would recommend trying this route as a beginner. It could save you money if don’t enjoy it.
To Buy or Rent Airsoft Equipment
If you’re new to Airsoft, I would highly recommend renting your equipment for your first 3 games or so. The reason is cost. What tends to happen is beginners, spend X amount of money on kitting themselves out and then discover it wasn’t for them.
By renting Airsoft equipment, you could save yourself some money in the beginning. If you decide you like it, then go ahead and buy your equipment. If you decide you don’t like it, then you won’t have lost too much and be left with guns and ammo you don’t want.
Here’s an example of what it could cost to rent Airsoft equipment for the day;
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Gun | $25 (including one fully loaded mag) |
| Mask | $25 (Mask is yours to keep) |
| Field Entry | $30 (would have to be paid anyway) |
| Ammo | $5 plus |
| Total | $85 |
As you can see, this is a basic set up but it’s enough to get you playing. $85 might seem a bit steep but $30 would have to be paid whether you rent or own your equipment. Also, you could save $25 if you have your own mask. So on the day, you could play Airsoft for as little as $30.
Wrapping Up
I hope by now you realize that Airsoft is not expensive. if you control yourself. As I’ve discussed, it comes down to what you want. If you want the best of the best, it will cost more. But essentially that is something that you can work towards.
One of the biggest decisions will be whether you rent or not at first. I strongly advise that you do rent if only to see if you enjoy playing Airsoft before spending lots of your hard-earned cash.
